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Encouraged by longtime St. Bonaventure English professor, 2012 alumnus writes his first book

May 13, 2014 |

Kern Carter’s first book has hit the shelves.

The 2012 St. Bonaventure University alumnus, who graduated with a degree in English, is the author of “Thoughts of a Fractured Soul” (FriesenPress, 2014).

The book tells a story of family and failed potential told through the reflective voice of the main character, Corey Thomas, a.k.a. Ace. Through a series of non-linear digressions, some brief and some extended, Corey catalogues the crucial moments of his life as he remembers.

As these insights are pieced together, readers are presented with a tale that digs deep into societal behaviors and reflects the contemporary structure of the modern family.

“Each day that I am fortunate enough to open my eyes, I observe, challenge, push, react, all in hopes of becoming a better writer. I hesitate to label myself as an author because anyone that publishes a book can claim that title. I am a writer; someone that lives with words and is in constant analysis of the world around me,” said Carter, a native of Toronto who played guard for the Bonnies for two years (2003-2005) before injuries derailed his playing career.

“My gift is to communicate stories through the written word,” Carter said, “ … to create worlds within those pages that readers can see, touch, sense, and feel as they are guided through tales that reflect genuine life situations and perspectives.”

Carter counts Dr. Rick Simpson, longtime English professor at St. Bonaventure, as a significant influence on him.

“How can I put into words my gratitude to him for reading 181 pages of my first draft at the end of a semester, and for including comments on almost every page,” Carter said.

“Remembering that copy, I think of how excruciating that must have been for him. But he went even further and sat me down in his office to tell me that he believed in me. He was my first critic and helped me move passed my fear of making my work public.”

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About the University: The nation’s first Franciscan university, St. Bonaventure University cultivates graduates who are confident and creative communicators, collaborative leaders and team members, and innovative problem solvers who are respectful of themselves, others, and the diverse world around them. We are establishing pathways to internships, graduate schools and careers in the context of our renowned liberal arts tradition. Our students are becoming extraordinary.